New Dewa green regs will create more jobs in UAE

Mick Dalton says the second phase of Dewa's green building regulations will help create more jobs.

The second phase of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (Dewa) green building regulations will regulate all stages of construction, from design through to handover, Construction Week can reveal.

The phase, due to be implemented within weeks, is already at the first-draft stage. Dewa was unable to put a firm date on the release of the regulations.

“It will touch many areas,” a Dewa spokesperson told CW. “It will relate to all the aspects of building, and all of the different life stages of the building, and it will concern all stakeholders of the building.”

The spokesperson confirmed that a draft version of the regulations “will soon be released for review by all the different stakeholders.”

A top industry expert told CW the ongoing implementation of Dewa’s regulations will create jobs in the UAE, despite fears over the additional cost to developers and later costs to building owners.

“I believe the FM sector will need better management to ensure sustainability goals are met, and more technical staff to implement the next phase of green changes at existing buildings,” Marafeq Facilities Management general manager Mick Dalton said.

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FEATURED COMMENT Scaremongering about costs of green buildings is not helpful, particularly in a market that is so cost sensitive.   1 Comments Read more comments »

Dalton was commenting on fears that the regulations will result in job cuts as property owners attempt to cut costs to pay for the additional up front expenses to maintain a green building.

“It is essential that FM experts are consulted at the building design stage to increase the lifecycle of the building and present a better return on investment for the building owner,” Dalton, who is also past chairman of the British Institute of Facilities Management, added.

The first phase of Dewa’s green building regulations, which came into force in January 2008, covered four areas: power consumption through lighting fittings, power generation through solar power, control systems for lighting and air-conditioning, and restrictive measures for water consumption.

When complete, the second phase of Dewa’s regulations will be published on the authority’s website, and will be communicated to developers, contractors, consultants and landlords via a circular.